The penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, “Lagrange Point,” was directed by Jonathan Frakes. You may know him best as William T. Riker, First Officer on Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, Frakes has also become a prolific director. In fact, he has directed episodes of almost every live-action Star Trek series to debut since TNG.
For today’s Trek Tuesday, we’re examining every Star Trek episode and movie directed by Frakes. Which one of them is your favorite? Be sure to let Geek Girl Authority know in the comments section.
The Next Generation
Frakes got his directing debut on TNG on the instant-classic Season 3 episode “The Offspring.” In this episode, Data (Brent Spiner) resolves to build a child. This is Lal (Hallie Todd). This episode is especially memorable because it models Data’s acceptance of his child no matter what gender they choose for themselves (Lal chooses female). It also features a tearjerker ending; prepare tissues accordingly.
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For TNG Season 4, Frakes directed two episodes. The first was “Reunion,” including the debut of the memorable Klingon weapon, the bat’leth. The second was “The Drumhead.” This outing is somewhat divisive, as some consider it one of the series’ best episodes, while others feel just the opposite. For example, Keith DeCandido rated “The Drumhead” at just 3 out of 10.
For TNG Season 5, Frakes directed a single episode, “Cause and Effect.” However, this memorable time-loop tale casts a long shadow, with Morgan Bateson (Kelsey Grammer) enjoying a non-speaking cameo in the Season 3 premiere of Star Trek: Lower Decks, “Grounded.”
Frakes directed two highly influential episodes of TNG Season 6. The first is “Quality of Life,” which introduces the Exocomp robots. The second is “The Chase,” which provides the foundation for Discovery Season 5’s overarching storyline.
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Finally, two episodes in TNG Season 7 were directed by Frakes. The first is “Attached,” an episode that uses a sci-fi trope to explore the intimate relationship between Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). The second is “Sub Rosa.” I don’t have to say anything else about that one, right?
Star Trek Movies
From there, Frakes boldly ventured to the big screen. His feature directorial debut is one of the few other Star Trek movies Trekkies will mention in the same breath as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. In the Frakes-directed Star Trek: First Contact, the crew of the USS Enterprise-D — excuse me, that’s now USS Enterprise-E — must travel back in time to prevent the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) from altering Federation history.
This movie is significant for many reasons. It introduces the Borg Queen and delivers loads of worldbuilding regarding the foundation of the Federation. Data’s storyline with his emotion chip gets major development, and the Enterprise-E debuts. Plus, it’s just a great movie. Worf (Michael Dorn) gets to quip, “Assimilate this!” Picard does that thing where he gets too emotional and smashes glass. The inclusion of “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf not only introduces pop music to the Franchise but also makes for an all-time great movie scene.
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Next, Frakes directed the subsequent TNG crew movie, Star Trek: Insurrection. This movie was not as well received by audiences or critics as First Contact. However, it is an underrated outing that plays like an extended two-part episode of TNG. Plus, it features another great villain: Ru’afo (F. Murray Abraham). Picard also wears a goofy hat. Furthermore, we get a musical moment with Gilbert and Sullivan.
After Insurrection, Stuart Baird directed the final TNG movie, Star Trek: Nemesis. However, when appearing on the DVD commentary for Insurrection alongside Frakes, Marina Sirtis minced no words. According to Sirtis, Frakes possesses knowledge of the Franchise that makes him uniquely suited to helming Star Trek projects.
Deep Space Nine and Voyager
Frakes also directed three episodes of the other two 90s-era Star Trek shows. First, he directed three episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 3. The first was “The Search (Part II).” This episode is considered the conclusion of the three-episode arc that introduced the Jem’Hadar.
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Next, Frakes directed “Meridian.” This episode is notable for being the first appearance of Jeffrey Combs, an actor who will become renowned for being one of the most prolific Star Trek multi-role guest stars. This episode is also the origin of the visage of Quark (Armin Shimerman) being attached to the body of a holographic Kira (Nana Visitor), a gag that returns in Lower Decks Season 3’s “Hear All, Trust Nothing.”
Finally, Frakes directed the DS9 Season 3 episode “Past Tense, Part II.” The conclusive chapter in this iconic two-part episode shows the Bell Riots, which, according to Trek canon, occurred in September 2024 in San Francisco. Plus, a guest appearance by Clint Howard.
Frakes went on to direct three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager Season 3. The first was “Projections.” This episode saw The Doctor (Robert Picardo) struggling with his perception of reality (as we all do from time to time). It also featured a memorable guest appearance by TNG alum Reginald Broccoli Barclay (Dwight Schultz).
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The second Voyager episode directed by Frakes is “Parturition.” This episode features several Star Trek tropes, including characters having to sort out their differences after a shuttle crash and that one cave set — you know the one I mean. The third Voyager episode Frakes directed is “Prototype,” an episode about violent warring robots. Classic Trek tropes galore.
Discovery
Frakes went on to direct at least one episode of Discovery in each season. In Discovery Season 1, he directed “Despite Yourself,” an episode involving the Mirror Universe. In Discovery Season 2, he directed two episodes. The first is “New Eden.” This episode serves as something of a full reintroduction for Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). And the second is “Project Daedalus,” which sets the stage for the Discovery Season 2 finale.
For Discovery Season 3, Frakes directed three episodes. The first is “People of Earth.” This episode is significant for introducing Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) and Gray Tal (Ian Alexander), thereby bringing trans rep to the Franchise in a serious and lasting way. Next, he directed “Sanctuary,” an episode involving the homeworld of Cleveland “Book” Booker (David Ajala). Finally, he directed “There Is A Tide…,” the penultimate episode of the season.
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In Discovery Season 4, Frakes directs just one episode, but it’s an extremely memorable one. “Stormy Weather” includes powerful scenes in which Gray gets to work closely with the newly sentient Zora (Annabelle Wallis). The emotional final scene gives both Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Zora a chance to shine as the ship’s computer sings the titular song.
Finally, Frakes directed the penultimate episode of Discovery‘s final season, “Lagrange Point.” In an interview about the episode, Del Barrio shared their thoughts on Frakes’ directorial style. They explained that as a director, Frakes wants “everyone to have a good time.” They continued that Frakes “expects and wants everyone to have a good time on set. And he makes that environment happen, which is a godsend.”
Picard
Frakes also directed six episodes across all three seasons of Star Trek: Picard, with two in each season. The first is Picard Season 1’s “Absolute Candor,” which marks the debut of Elnor (Evan Evagora). Elnor embodies the Trek trope of “Klingon on the Bridge.” Let’s hope we see more of his story in the future. Frakes also directed the subsequent Picard Season 1 episode, “Stardust City Rag.” This episode also features Picard wearing a funny hat. Patterns are beginning to emerge.
Next, Frakes directed Picard Season 2’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” Together with the subsequent episode, “Two of One,” also directed by Frakes, the story of Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill) and the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching) merging their consciousnesses is told. Plus, in “Two of One,” the Jurati Collective makes their musical debut with a show-stopping rendition of “Shadows of the Night” by Pat Benatar.
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Finally, Frakes directed Picard Season 3’s “Seventeen Seconds” and “No Win Scenario.” These two consecutive episodes tell the story of the USS Titan-A falling into (but eventually escaping) a seemingly hopeless gravity well, all while being pursued by Vadic (Amanda Plummer).
Interestingly, Frakes was not originally tapped to direct this pair of episodes. According to an interview, Chris Byrne “was meant to direct episodes 3 and 4 because he’s very creative.” However, when COVID protocols prevented him from doing so, veteran Trek director Frakes was brought in to direct the episodes instead.
Strange New Worlds
Frakes also directed an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, “Those Old Scientists.” This memorable episode gave Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) a chance to temporarily leave animation behind and visit the live-action USS Enterprise. Frakes emphasizes Boimler’s giddy “fan” perspective, especially on the Enterprise bridge, to give this episode a little bit of extra “oomph.”
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Other Trek Alumni as Directors
Frakes wasn’t the first Star Trek cast member to direct the Franchise since Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner both directed big-screen outings for the crew of Star Trek: The Original Series. However, he was far from the last: other TNG alums including Stewart and LeVar Burton would go on to direct Star Trek episodes, as would Voyager‘s Roxann Dawson. However, the legacy of those (and other) actors/directors will have to wait for another Trek Tuesday.
The episodes discussed in this article are currently available to stream on Paramount+. Meanwhile, First Contact and Insurrection are available to stream on Max.
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